Explain the rule of thirds to a child like drawing a tic-tac-toe board on a picture to make it more exciting, telling them to put the main thing (like a person or a cool tree) on the spots where the lines cross, not in the middle, so eyes want to explore the whole photo, not just stop at the center. Use real photos or their phone's grid to show how placing things on the "power points" or lines makes a more interesting story than having everything perfectly centered.
What is the rule of thirds? The rule of thirds is a photography composition guideline that divides an image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Placing the subject along these lines or their intersections helps create balanced, visually appealing compositions.
The Rule of Thirds is a simplified version of the Golden Ratio. The Rule of Third splits an image into thirds vertically and horizontally, as shown in this grid. Artists will often separate the foreground and background content by using the horizontal lines.
The rule of thirds is a guideline for both artists and photographers. It says that if you divide your composition into thirds, either vertically or horizontally, and then place focal areas of your scene at the meeting points of them, you will get a more pleasing arrangement and layout for your compositions.
It's called the rule of thirds, but you can think of it as giving you four crosshairs with which to target a shot's important elements. This will help you balance your main subject with negative space in your shot to nail an effective photographic composition that will draw the viewer's eye.
First, by positioning key elements at rule-of-thirds intersections or gridlines, your photo becomes more balanced. Your key elements create visual interest in a third of the composition while also balancing out the empty space in the remaining two-thirds. This looks great and feels right to the viewer.
The rule of thirds is a method of breaking up an image or design into different sections using columns and rows that form a grid. The grid consists of three evenly-spaced rows and columns to make nine equal boxes that fit over the image. The grid on your phone's camera is a great example of this.
Imagine dividing your image into a grid of nine equal sections by drawing two vertical lines and two horizontal lines across your frame—like a tic-tac-toe board. The idea is to place your subject or key points of interest along these lines or at their intersections.
Simply put, the Rule of Thirds explains how we typically have three outcomes to our day. We have great days when we feel healthy and highly productive. We have average days when we are doing well, but could be better. And then, we all have the bad days, when life gets hard and interferes with our best-made plans.
If you place the elements of your photo two thirds to the right or left it again generally becomes more pleasing to the eye. If shooting vertically, try placing your horizon two thirds of the way up or down.
Making Photographs
Film is a thin, see-through material. It has a special coating that goes through chemical changes when light comes into the camera from the outside. These changes create the image. After taking pictures, the photographer takes the film out of the camera.
Mentally divide your image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and place your subject accordingly. That is, simply imagine that your image is divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and then place your subject on one of the lines or at the intersection of those lines.
If you're just starting out in photography, mastering composition is key to creating visually appealing and impactful images. One of the most fundamental techniques to learn is the rule of thirds, a simple yet powerful guideline that can enhance your photos dramatically.
In storytelling: “The Three Little Pigs,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” and “Three Billy Goats Gruff” are all classic examples of stories that use the rule of three. In speeches: “I came, I saw, I conquered” is a famous example of the rule of three used by Julius Caesar.
The rule of thirds means that the subject isn't centered; rather, the main focal point can be to one side or at the top or bottom of the image. It's a tool to help artists draw the viewer's eye into the composition, rather than just glancing at the center.
Common mistakes to avoid when using the rule of thirds
Similarly, some tend to overcrowd the frame with too much unnecessary detail, which can distract from the main subject. Another common mistake is neglecting to consider the background, leading to cluttered and messy compositions.
Placing your subject or horizon in the centre of the image is the most obvious alternative to the Rule of Thirds, and works well for many subjects. A prominent horizontal line in the dead-centre of an image perfectly bisects it and gives equal weight to the two halves of the image.
Those areas will draw your eye in first before going on to look at other parts of a picture, so by putting important elements along with those points, you'll ensure they shine. Another reason for using this technique is because it allows you to balance a photo perfectly.
The rule of thirds is a visual guide that breaks an image into thirds (both horizontally and vertically.) This gives you nine pieces created by four grid lines. The “rule” states if you position your subject along the gridlines, you'll get a better composition.